The Tale of One God and Two Cities

African American Christians & the Evangelical Right – One Bible, One Lord, Two Parties

Republican Presidential nominee Sen. John McCain pivoted from the Republican convention accompanied by a rejuvenated conservative base and, with the choice of Alaska Governor Sara Palin as his running mate, a clear focus on securing the non-educated, ‘hard-working’, white female and previously lukewarm evangelical [white] vote. While pinning for this category of voter, Sen. McCain simultaneously succeeded the African American vote, which includes a large Christian populous, to the historic candidacy of Sen. Barack Obama. While Sen. Obama’s candidacy has not always guaranteed the majority of the African American vote [Remember Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton?] the ramifications of his successful nomination clearly would have made it extremely difficult for Sen. McCain to garner significant numbers within this group.

Although the mechanics of such a divide between white and black Christians are to most political strategists a logical response to our current cultural climate, the undercurrent of the Christian response is not. The alarming fact, within the intellect of the faith community, is that on the surface, Christian values seem to be as divided as the parties which vie for their vote. GospelCity.com therefore attempts to take a serious look at what factors attribute to this great divide, democracy withstanding, amongst white and black Christians in our political process. Are the parameters of faith persuaded by cultural differences and is there a strain of diversity within those differences?

Historically, African Americans, Christians included, have overwhelmingly voted Democrat since the civil rights movement of the 1960’s. The civil rights movement birthed out of the bowels of the black church and whose agenda has and presently is staunchly engraved by the pursuit for economic and education equality, human rights, and against the notion of unjustified war.

Opposite of this agenda stands the Evangelical [white] vote, which unlike the African American Christian vote, has historically been less aligned with a particular party and more coalesced around candidates who are seen as ‘born-again’ political figures. However since 2000, a more moral-values surged Evangelical vote emerged and aligned itself strictly on the platform of pro-life and anti-gay marriage of which the Republican platform vigorously promotes.

With this ascension in mind, political history denotes that the splitting within the ranks of cultural identity amongst Christians emerged as Ronald Regan sought to successfully prevent Democrat Jimmy Carter from a second term. Evangelicals, who supported Carter during his first run for office, had soured toward the southern Democrat and, with the help of Rev. Jerry Farwell and Pat Robertson, shifted their support to Governor Regan. African American Christians did not follow. A large portion of this group resisted the move as it was seen as containing a tone of southern racism, of which African American Christians were already soured to politically.

Civil and economic rights, issues reminiscent of the turning tide of the African American Christian vote of the 1960’s, are points of conviction which do not seem to transfer to the Evangelical right. While a drive to overturn Roe vs. Wade and to prevent the advancement of gay marriage, create a counter to the sensitivities of non-white cultural groups for Evangelicals.

Hopefully history will remove the biases within a group which has one bible, one God but is just as divided as the world it’s in.

We want to hear from you. As a Christian voter what moves you to vote the way you do? Let us know enter your comments below.